Sinking shafts or the like.



D; E. MORAN.

SINKING SHAFTS OR THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 28, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Air

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

D. E. MORAN.

SINKING SHAFTS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2 WITNESSES:

g DANIEL E. MORAN, OF MENDHAM, NEW JERSEY.

SINKING SHAFTS OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented une 21. 1910.

Application filed May 28, 1909. Serial No. 499,035.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. MORAN. a citizen of the United States, residing in Mendham, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sinking Shafts or --the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide certain improvements in the sinking of shafts, piles. piers, and the like, and which is especia 1y useful in sinking concrete or other mason y, and which may be used with or without other methods of sinking such structures, according to conditions. For example, in addition to the hereinafter described method, open dredging or pneumatic dredging may be resorted to, and the shaft may be driven or jacked or weighted down, or may be excavated from the inside or assisted by jets of water or other known methods.

The invention is based on the. introduction of air alongside the shaft to facilitate its descent, the air being used in connection with water is advisable, and being preferably introduced in jets distributed around the periphery of the shaft and at different levels simultaneously. The use of air or equivalent gas in this way as a sort of lubricant to facilitate the descent of the shaft has advantages over the use of water for the same purpose. The water is introduced at a low point, and is expected to work its way up along the side of the shaft. But if there is any easier path for the water to follow it will naturally do so. In attempting to rise, the water has to overcome a certain head of the subsurface water, and is apt to be dispersed through the surrounding soil to a greater or less extent, dependin upon the head opposed to it, the nature of t ie soil, and the pressure with which it is introduced. If the jet issues at a level at which there is a stratum of porous material over which lies a stratum of dense compact material, the tendency is for the water to run away horizontally through the porous stratum rather than to rise against the subsurface head through the denser material. Air, on the other hand, has a much more decided tendency to rise as soon as it is liberated, because it is lighter not only than the soil but also than the subsurface water. Furthermore it is extremely resilient and escapes from a jet under compression, and immediately expands and tends to clear a path for itself; and by its yielding nature it will work its way upward against the obstacles interposed more effectively than water. The tendency of the air to rise through the water is continuous throughout the-height of the water..

The use of air is especially advantageous in connection with water, and it is preferably mixed with the water so that the two issue from the same jet. The air rises naturally and tends to make a path through which the less yielding and denser water can follow; and the density of the water makes it a better medium for keeping the path open and lubricating the side of the shaft.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of about one-third of a concrete shaft in the course of sinking; Fig. 2 is a sectional View of a jet pipe. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the lower part of another style of pipe. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of caissons illustrating different embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the shaft A is built of concrete or brickwork, and sunk by excavating the earth from beneath its lower end in any one of a number of known ways. To facilitate its descent, jets of mixed air and water are introduced around its periphery at various levels. One or more pipes B are arranged to introduce jets at the level of a shoulder G. Oneor more pipes D are arranged to introduce jets at a lower level near theso-called cutting edge E. The pipes B and D are embedded in the concrete and cannot be withdrawn. If further lubrication is needed than that provided by the jets from the pipes B and 'D, a third pipe F (one or more) may the bore of the shaft and carried out below the cutting edge E.

Fig. 2 shows a convenient arrangement of the parts of a double pipe for carrying air and water. The air pipe G is arranged within the water pipe H, and extends out of the upper end of 1t through a closed stuffingbox, and receives air through a flexible pipe J from a compressor or blower. The water is introduced from a pump through a flexible pipe K connected by a branch to the upper end of the water pipe The nozz e comprises an outer mouth-piece L for the watergwith a converging edge, and an inner be extended down within mouth-piece M for the air discharge a little short of the end of the water pipe, so as to cause the air to be carried out in a mixture with the water.

, Instead'of having separate pipes B and D extending to different levels, nozzles may be arranged at these different levels and re-- ceive their supply from a common pipe B .as in Fig. 3. This p1pe is composed of the 10 air pipe G and the water pipe H, which are connected near their lower ends by branches leading to the nozzles L M and L M which in detail are the same as the nozzle in Fig. 2.

In theconstruction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the water pipes H are open at their upper ends and the water is introduced only in quantities as needed, and may stand for example at its normal level. The air pipes G receive compressed air, and are provided at one or more points with nozzles M for proair ma be projected from any desired level.

The ranches L may be either horizontal or upturned, the latter construction serving tobetter prevent the loss of any compressed air upward through the water pipe H Where the branch is inclined downward toward its outer end, as is necessary for the lowermost branch, it is preferable to use a special air pipe Gr having its mouth or nozzle correspondingly shaped as shown in .vhat I claim is:

1. In the sinking of shafts or the like, the method which consists in introducing air alongside the shaft to facilitate its descent.

' 2. In the sinking of shafts or the like, the method which consists in introd'ucin air and water alongside the shaft to faci 'tate its descent.

3. In the sinking of shafts, thernethod which consists in introducing air below its cutting edge in jets distributed around its periphery.

4. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in introducing air and water below its cutting edge in ets distributed around its peri hery.

5. In the si ing of shafts or the like, the method which consists in introducing air alongside the shaft in jets at different levels simultaneously.

6. In the sinking of shafts or the like, the method which consists in introducing air and water alon side the shafts in jets at different levels simultaneously.

7. In the sinking of shafts or the like, the method which consists in introducing a mixture of air and water alongside the shaft to facilitate its descent.

8. Means for use in the sinking of shafts or the like including a double pipe the two parts of whichare adapted .to carry air and Water respectively, and arranged at their ends to form a mixture of the air and water.

and to release the same alongside the shaft to facilitate its descent.

9. Means for use in the sinking of shafts or the like, including an open pipe adapted to carry water, and having a nozzle leading to the outside of the shaft, and an air pipe adapted to communicate with the nozzle of the water pipe and to force a mixture of air and water to the outside of the shaft. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed within said water pipe having a nozzle 1 my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' DANIEL E. MORAN. Witnesses:

D. ANTHONY USINA, FRED WHITE. 

